Thin rust blue

[Bill Graham]

I've performed three rust blue processes, following the instructions of the products I'm using, and many peoples wisdom here and elsewhere. I am consistently getting the same result and I am not sure of the cause.

I've used solution from Rustblue.com a couple of times, and Laurel Mtn. Forge one time. My solution for the rust conversion is to use a vertical steam chamber made from 4" diameter PVC, over a stainless steel stock pot, and a hot plate. The PVC is bolted to the perforated lid via a toilet flange. The barrels are suspended about 12" above the perforated lid, and the pot is at a full boil.

The last inch or so of each project doesn't take the bluing as well as the rest. The barrels are looking great accept for this area. There is some finish, but it is a bit blotchy and thin. The barrels are throughly degreased with hot soap and water, scrubbed with acetone, and handled with nitrite gloves only from then on.

Thanks for your advice. These are pictures of the last set, which is a 1923 12ga Sterlingworth that was in pretty rough shape. Have been working on it as a gift for my father-in-law. The last picture is after the third carding and then oiling to cure.

[Bill Graham]

Here's the area I'm talking about. This has been the problem area on an LC Smith Field Grade, Philly Sterlingworth, and a factory rebarreled Sterlingworth.

[mark beasland]

I use a tank of boiling water so I don't have experience with your set up. I can say if you have the same trouble with different barrels you have a process problem. Try hanging them muzzle up and see if the issue moves to the other end of the barrel. My guess would be something in the rust application or steaming process.

Good luck

[Bill Graham]

Thanks Mark. I agree since the results are consistent. I was thinking that perhaps I need more height about the water that's boiling, but boiling works. Maybe I've got a hybrid model and that's messing things up.

My other thought is that gravity is pulling the solution down, and even though I'm not using much, it's accumulating too heavily at the last couple inches.

I don't have facilities to boil, so I need to figure this out. By the way, I do this just for me, to learn and help protect our family guns.

[Bill Graham]

Having another go with the 20ga Sterly and 12ga A grade.

* Upgraded my steam chamber heat source to a propane camp stove, instead of the cheap electric hot plate. Better boil and more stable of a physical platform to place the pot onto.
* Acquired a ceramic coated stock pot as well, which is heavier than the cheap stainless one I was using before. Like the before, I bolted the toilet flange base of the PVC chamber to the lid of the pot, and then I secure the lid to the pot with spring clamps. A pressure cooker with a locking lid would be ideal, but I haven't found one at the local thrift store yet. Need to find one that has a flat lid, more like a canning pot, so I can bolt the lid and chamber together.
* Hanging the barrels muzzle up now.

So far they're looking much better.

[Mike of the Mountain]

WH, how about posting some pics of your steamer set-up?

[Bill Graham]

Not pretty, and has room for improvement, but the job is getting done. I had a few of the components on hand already, and the rest were inexpensive.